Di(phenylpropylamino)gossypol: a derivative of the dimeric natural product gossypol.

Di(phenylpropylamino)gossypol [systematic name: 2,2'-bis{1,6-dihydroxy-5-isopropyl-8-[(3-phenylpropylamino)methylidene]naphthalen-7-one}, C48H52N2O6, was formed by reaction of the dimeric natural product gossypol with 3-phenylpropylamine. The structure of this compound has its two naphthalene ring systems oriented approximately perpendicular to each other, and the two pendant phenylpropyl groups have different conformations. One of these side groups is considerably disordered at room temperature but less so at 120 K. The enantiomeric molecules form centrosymmetric dimers that are supported by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and by hydrophobic interactions between a pair of naphthalene rings. Two additional hydrogen bonds tie the dimer pairs into layers. Unlike gossypol and many gossypol Schiff base derivatives, the title compound crystallizes without the inclusion of solvent, which appears to occur because of the size and flexibility of its phenylpropyl pendent groups.